Featuring plenty of produce with family meals can be a great way to increase the variety of nutrients and phytochemicals, which can help maintain good health for adults and promote growth and development for kids.   

Try these tips to serve up powerful pairings featuring produce for family meals.  

 

North Carolina Sweetpotatoes 

Sweetpotatoes are nutritious, a good source of fiber, filling, and delicious. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients to support health. 

Enjoying more sweetpotatoes can support:  

Vision – sweetpotatoes contain vitamin A which helps support vision. When eaten with the skin on, one medium sweetpotato contains over 100% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin A, which plays a role in vision, bone development and immune function 

Immune health - Like citrus, sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin C, which helps fight infections, heal wounds and absorb iron. A medium sweet potato provides 37 percent of your daily recommended amount of vitamin C. 

Cardiovascular health - sweetpotatoes contain potassium and magnesium which help manage blood pressure and reduce risk of strokes.  

Cholesterol health – Sweetpotatoes are rich in fiber, a nutrient that bulks up food, keeping you full longer. Fiber also keeps your bowels healthy and lowers cholesterol. A medium sweet potato baked in its skin has 4 grams of fiber.  

 

Monterey Mushrooms 

Mushrooms are a healthy addition to feature in family meals.  Multiply the flavor and nutrients of your favorite dishes just by adding Monterey Mushrooms.  

Enjoying more mushrooms can support: 

Bone health - When exposed to UV light, mushrooms are the only significant source of vitamin D from the produce department. Vitamin D helps build and maintain strong bones by helping the body absorb calcium.  

Heart Health – If focusing on eating for heart health mushrooms are a great addition as they are fat free, cholesterol free and very low in sodium.  

Immune support – mushrooms are rich in selenium, a mineral that acts as an antioxidant to help the immune system function properly. 

 

Avocados From Mexico 

Avocados are a delicious way to boost the nutrition profile of your favorite meal.  Nutrient dense Avocados from Mexico offer more than 20 vitamins and minerals, are a good source of fiber, and provide healthy fats, that support heart health. 

Enjoying more avocados can support: 

Reduced sugar intake - While most fruits contain at least 5 grams of sugar or more per serving, avocados contain less than 1 gram of sugar per serving. 

Digestive health - The 3g of dietary fiber in one-third of a medium avocado (50 gram serving) helps you feel fuller longer. It also aids your digestive system in running smoothly. 

Heart Health - The American Heart Association recommends replacing saturated fat in the diet with good fats like unsaturated fat. Avocados are a low saturated fat food and provide 6 grams of unsaturated fat per serving.